Engineer (Internal Applicants Only)

INTENT

The Lathrop–Manteca Fire District is currently recruiting to fill one vacancy. This recruitment will establish an eligibility list that may be used to fill current and future vacancies over the next 24 months. The eligibility list may be extended for an additional year at the discretion of the Fire District Board.

We are seeking motivated, customer-focused individuals who are committed to excellence, collaboration, and public service. If you possess a strong work ethic, a positive attitude, and a dedication to teamwork, we encourage you to apply and promote in an organization that values employee empowerment and exceptional service to our community.

WHO WE ARE

Our members take pride in serving the community with professionalism, integrity, and respect. As a progressive organization, we are focused on preparing for tomorrow by fostering leadership, enhancing skills through training, and working collaboratively to meet the diverse and evolving needs of our residents.

WHAT WE DO

The Lathrop–Manteca Fire Protection District is dedicated to protecting life, property, and the environment throughout the City of Lathrop and the surrounding rural communities of both Lathrop and Manteca. Serving approximately 46,000 residents from five strategically located fire stations, the District provides a comprehensive range of emergency response and public safety services to a growing and diverse community.

In 2025, District personnel responded to more than 4,200 calls for service. Our members are committed to delivering exceptional service with professionalism, integrity, compassion, and pride. The District values its employees and fosters a culture of servant leadership, accountability, teamwork, and continuous professional development.

To ensure the highest level of service, our firefighters receive advanced training and are equipped with state-of-the-art apparatus, equipment, and technology. District personnel respond to fires, technical rescues, medical emergencies, dive incidents, hazardous materials events, and natural disasters with skill and efficiency. The District also maintains specialized response capabilities through its Technical Rescue, Dive, OES Water Rescue, and Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Teams.

As an approved Advanced Life Support (ALS) provider within San Joaquin County, the District delivers enhanced emergency medical services to the communities it serves. Through innovation, preparedness, and a commitment to excellence, the Lathrop–Manteca Fire Protection District continues to meet the evolving public safety needs of its residents while preparing for the challenges of the future.

THE ENGINEER POSITION:

The position of Fire Engineer within a modern fire department is increasingly complex and requires a progressive and motivated individual. The ability to maintain cooperative relations with fellow employees, supervisors, and the public is highly desired. The rigors of emergency duties and the ever-present danger require an individual to be in top physical condition. The Fire Engineer will respond to fire alarms, emergency medical and other emergency calls to protect life and property; participate in fire prevention, fire inspection, and public education/awareness programs; and assist in maintenance, repair, and general upkeep of stations, grounds, and apparatus.

Examples of Essential Duties:

• Under direction, respond to alarms with a fire company; connect and lay hose lines; enter burning areas of buildings with hose lines; operates nozzles and directs a stream of water onto fire; carry and operate fire extinguishers; raise, lower and climb ladders; make forcible entry into buildings as necessary. 
• Respond to emergency calls, related to fires, emergency medical, hazardous materials, vehicle accidents, and other incidents. 
• Operates fire district equipment as directed, which may include but not be limited to driving and operating fire apparatus at emergencies.
• Maintain fire apparatus and equipment in good working order; perform equipment tests and checks. 
• Perform company inspection of designated commercial structures to discover and eliminate fire hazards. 
• Maintain fire stations, grounds, and hydrants. 
• Participate in fire service and related training exercises and classes. 
• Study fire department manuals, fire hazards, and fire-fighting techniques; attend drills and staff training activities.  
• Educate the public in fire prevention, safety awareness, and CPR techniques; make presentations to elementary students in Fire Awareness Programs.  
• Writes reports on computers, conducts research and statistics, give demonstrations, instructs classes and assigned training. 
• Assists in the investigation and cause of fires.
• Performs any and all other tasks properly assigned by their superior.

**Note: The omission of a specific statement of duty does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment.

Demonstrated Knowledge of:

• The principles, practices, and procedures of modern firefighting and emergency systems that may be utilized for the protection of lives and property;
• Fire suppression and first responder methods, practices and techniques;
• Emergency medical service techniques, CPR, basic life support, rescue and resuscitation equipment and practices;
• The operation and maintenance of various types of fire apparatus, equipment, tools, devices, and facilities used by the District; and
• The geographic layout of the District, names of streets and numbers, water main and hydrant locations, target hazards and the best routes of travel, District resources and external resources provided through mutual aid.

• Applying rescue operations methods and techniques;
• Using and manipulating a variety of hand and power tools, medical equipment and instruments and apparatus;
• Basic keyboarding; and
• Operating a personal computer and/or tablet and appropriate worked-related applications, such as word processing, calendar, and e-mail systems, etc.

Demonstrated Ability to:

• Possess and have the ability to maintain an appropriate California Driver's License and maintain a satisfactory driving record to maintain insurability under the District’s insurance policy;
• Operate apparatus and equipment used in modern firefighting activities in accordance with departmental policies and California State Law;
• Learn local streets, routes of travel, and locations of public buildings;
• Learn geography, including location of hydrants and major fire hazards of District;
• Obtain and maintain EMT certification from the State of California and the San Joaquin County EMS Agency;
• Prepare complete and concise reports;
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with employees, supervisors, and the public;
• Assume personal responsibility for completing shared work tasks in cooperation with other members of a team living in a dormitory-like setting;
• Work in confined spaces such as attic crawl spaces;
• Travel to different sites and work locations and work protracted and irregular hours;
• Represent the District effectively and professionally in contacts with representatives of other agencies and the public; and
• Conduct public education training for the general public.

Minimum Qualifications:(The following are minimal qualifications necessary for entry into the classification)

• Current full-time employee with 18 months of qualifying fire service experience at the time of appointment and be eligible in accordance with District Policy #1.17 – Promotional Policy.

• Possession of or ability to obtain and maintain, a valid California driver license with a DMV Fire Endorsement and remain insurable on the District’s insurance policy.
• Possess and maintain EMT certification or Paramedic License with the State and County EMS Agency.
• California Office of the State Fire Marshal Firefighter 1 Certificate, completion of an accredited fire academy through an Accredited Regional Training Program (ARTP), or Accredited Local Academy (ALA).  Promotional candidates without a Firefighter 1 certificate must complete certification within 24 months of appointment. 
• California Office of the State Fire Marshal certifications in Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator 1A: Driver/Operator and Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator 1B: Pumping Apparatus Operations at the time of appointment.

• Incumbents in this class must have physical examinations performed at the interval indicated in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Lathrop – Manteca Firefighters Association and the District.

• Minimum age of 18 years old at the time of application
• Valid Driver’s License (valid California license required upon appointment)
• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Current California EMT certification or National Registry EMT certification at the time of application (California Paramedic license or National Registry Paramedic certification accepted).

• Applicants must be certified as an EMT in California or licensed as a Paramedic in California at time of appointment, AND,
• Applicants must have a current BLS Health Care Provider card at time of appointment.
• Licensed Paramedics will need to obtain San Joaquin County accreditation prior to practicing ALS services. 

Desirable Qualifications:

• Associates degree or higher or sixty college-level units with a Fire Science major
• Valid and Current California State Paramedic License is highly desired
• HazMat Tech/Spec, USAR Certifications, CFSTES/FSTEP Instructors

Application Process:

The information contained herein is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract or offer. Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. Candidates must apply online through Government Jobs. The application and required certification documents must be completed and submitted together by Sunday, August 9, 2026 at 11:59 P.M.

Testing and Selection Process with Tentative Timelines:

Testing for this position may include the following:

Tentative Dates: August 10, 2026

(Critical fails may be an immediate disqualification)

Candidates should anticipate any of the following subjects may be a part of the testing process: Firefighting essentials, emergency vehicle operation, knowledge and use of equipment and apparatus, water supplies, fire stream practices, water supplies, hydraulic principles and calculations.

**Any testing items listed above may be omitted at the discretion of the Fire Chief

Tentative Date: August 19, 2026

(Critical fails may be an immediate disqualification)

Candidates should anticipate any of the following subjects may be a part of the practical assessment process: Firefighting essentials, emergency vehicle operation, knowledge and use of equipment and apparatus, water supplies, fire stream practices, water supplies, hydraulic principles and calculations.

**Any testing items listed above may be omitted at the discretion of the Fire Chief

Tentative Date: August 19, 2026

The Fire Chief will make a final appointment using the Rule of Three method per the District’s Promotional Policy.

Tentative Dates: September 3, 2026

Tentative Date: September 9, 2026

Compensation and Benefits:

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, should special accommodations be necessary at any stage of the selection process, please contact the HR Administrator at via e-mail at [email protected]

Members of the Bargaining Unit are members of the International Association of Firefighters and California Professional Firefighters, LOCAL 4317